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Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT)

Human trafficking is a booming international trade, making billions of dollars at the expense of millions of victims, many of them children, who are robbed of their dignity and freedom. Although most of us have never witnessed this crime, it happens every day all around the world.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with financial support from the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, has therefore set in motion a Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). The process, formally launched in London on 26 March 2007, is designed to have a long-term impact to create a turning point in the world-wide fight against human trafficking.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, events will take place across the globe to raise awareness, reduce the vulnerability of potential victims, examine the human impact of this crime and take action to stop it.

The ultimate goal must be to

• Prevent potential victims from falling prey to traffickers;
• Protect those who do; and
• Punish the criminals involved.

Download our brochure - Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (pdf-format)

A Global Commitment

International laws are in place to fight this crime. Governments have agreed to a UN Protocol against trafficking in persons which provides a working definition of human trafficking and a common basis for criminalizing the trafficking of persons, especially women and children.

By May 2007, 111 states had ratified this Trafficking Protocol, committing themselves to incorporate its provisions in their domestic laws and to fully implement its measures.

The Protocol provides for specific measures to prevent trafficking, protect the victims, and prosecute the criminals.

We have the tools. Lets use them.

Taking the initiative

UN.GIFT aims to fight human trafficking by building support for the following goals:

• Raise awareness inform the world of this crime and mobilize people to stop it,
• Strengthen prevention warn vulnerable groups and alleviate the factors that make people vulnerable to trafficking, such as poverty, underdevelopment and lack of opportunity
• Reduce demand attack the problem at its source by lowering incentives to trade and decreasing demand for the products and services of exploited people
• Support and protect victims ensure housing, counselling, medical, psychological and material assistance, keeping in mind the special needs of women and children and people at risk, such as those in refugee camps and conflict zones
• Improve law enforcement strengthen information exchange between law enforcement agencies on international trafficking routes and traffickers' profiles in order to dismantle criminal groups, leading to the conviction of traffickers
• Implement international commitments ensure that international agreements are turned into national laws and practice by assisting countries in need and improving the monitoring of compliance
• Enrich knowledge deepen world understanding of the scope and nature of human trafficking through more data collection and analysis, joint research initiatives and the creation of an evidence-based report on global trafficking trends
• Strengthen partnerships build up regional and thematic networks involving civil society, inter-governmental organizations and the private sector
• Create a special purpose fund to attract and leverage resources into funding projects around the world committed to ending human trafficking
• Create an informal contact group to give like-minded Member States ownership of the process and create long-term momentum.

The objectives set for the Global Initiative will contribute to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals of empowering women, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, eradicating poverty, improving education and developing a global partnership for development.

Human trafficking affects us all, whether we live in countries of origin, transit or destination.

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
Asha-Rose Migiro

A Team Effort

Teamwork is vital if we want to take the fight against human trafficking to new levels.

Dedicated individuals and groups around the world are already doing what they can. UN.GIFT aims to harness and combine this enormous goodwill, providing a framework for coherent action.

At the international level, a number of UN agencies and regional programs already deal with many aspects of human trafficking. These institutions have been working together in the Initiatives preparatory phase through a 6-member steering committee.

• UNICEF, promoting the protection of children from violence, abuse and exploitation
• ILO, promoting protection against forced labour and preventing child labour
• IOM, promoting the protection of migrant workers
• OHCHR as the custodian of the anti-slavery legal instruments
• OSCE, fighting human trafficking in its region
• UNODC as the guardian of the UN Protocol against trafficking in persons

Furthermore, since 2006 a broad range of activities and partners has been coordinated through the Inter-Agency Cooperation Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT).

Governments must be involved, both to steer the process and to strengthen their capacity to fight human trafficking.

At the grass roots level where the problem is most acute, non-governmental organizations and other civil society groups protect victims and raise awareness among vulnerable groups. These groups are the eyes and ears of the global community, the front line of the anti-trafficking movement.

A number of private individuals either through foundations, the media or on their own initiative are champions of the anti-trafficking cause. Their work, either to raise global awareness or to tackle local problems, is an inspiration to us all.

More needs to be done. Member States can help each other in the fight against human trafficking. Civil society should continue to advocate and galvanize a global, broad-based movement into action. Private companies should be active participants within their own communities and spheres of influence. The chance of success is greater if we work together.

Think globally, Act locally

Human trafficking is a worldwide phenomenon and manifests itself in many ways. The Global Initiative will analyze the problem from a wide range of geographical and thematic perspectives.

In 2007, the preparatory, first phase will:

• identify the causes of vulnerability to trafficking
• determine the range and magnitude of the impact of this crime
• increase awareness and knowledge about human trafficking
• identify partners in the fight against it
• mobilize financial resources to support action.

Regional events (in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Central Asia) will lead to action plans to deal with the causes of vulnerability and the impact of human trafficking. The action plans should be in line with international standards and sensitive to local needs.

There will also be thematic discussions on issues including:

• trafficking of women and children reinforcing regional networks
• reinforcing regional networks
• children in armed conflict
• bonded and forced labour
• the role of religious communities in combating human trafficking
• depiction of human trafficking in the media and film industry
• the role of the private sector in ending this crime

Some events are initiated by UNODC. Others are led by non-governmental organizations, other international groups and visionary individuals. All the events are of great importance in the fight against human trafficking.

Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking

This work will build towards a Forum organized in Vienna on 13-15 of February, 2008. The purpose of the Forum is to take stock of progress made under the Initiative in 2007 and set the direction for follow-up measures to prevent and counter human trafficking. It will also assess the lessons learned regarding the dimensions of the issue and the current plan of action.

The Vienna Forum will focus on three themes:

1. Vulnerability: what factors put people at risk to human trafficking?
2. Impact: human faces and humanitarian costs.
3. Initiatives: to be generated and implemented globally.

The second phase, which will follow the Forum, is the operational phase. Based on the knowledge, networks and resources acquired through the Global Initiative in 2007, projects will be initiated to prevent and fight human trafficking. The main implementers will be governments and civil society, with technical assistance provided by the international community, and financial support from the private sector and donors. Resources will be channelled through a special purpose fund, disbursed under the guidance of a representative co-ordinating group of stakeholders. Projects will be chosen and evaluated on their ability to make a real difference in the lives of those most vulnerable to, and affected by, human trafficking.

Contact

Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 500, 1400 Vienna, Austria
Telefax: (+43-1) 26060-5866
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-0
E-mail: un.gift@unodc.org
Website: www.ungift.org

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